Columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia this morning described to the court how Zurrieq mayor Ignatius Farrugia had followed her in Rabat on March 19, insulting her and chanting Malta Taghna Lkoll until she sought refuge in the church.

Ms Caruana Galizia was testifying in the police’s case against Mr Farrugia and mother and daughter Maria and Kimberly Vassallo, who are pleading not guilty to harassing her.

Police inspector Sarah Magri told the court she was informed about an incident near the St Joseph Club and when she went there she found Ms Caruana Galizia in the doorway of a nearby convent. There was a lot of agitation and a lot of police officers around.

Initial investigations established that Mr Farrugia had allegedly been insulting Ms Caruana Galizia.

She said the police spoke to Mr Farrugia, who denied insulting Ms Caruana Galizia and said he had simply asked her to take his photo so that she could put it on her blog.

He denied that he was with friends when the incident happened.

The inspector said that Ms Caruana Galizia had claimed that Mr Farrugia was chanting Malta Taghna Lkoll and that she was also approached by the other two accused who also harassed and tried to ridicule her.

Taking the witness stand, Ms Caruana Galizia said she had gone to the feast to take photos. She was moving along the street with friends and while her husband and their group moved forward, she trailed behind accompanied by her friend Paul Stivala.

She said that, at one point, Mr Farrugia started to follow her chanting Malta Taghna Lkoll. When she wondered if he was going to continue doing this right down the street, she told him he had better stop or she would call the police.

She said that, when Mr Stivala stopped to speak to a person who was with friends, she decided to stop with the group for protection.

She said that Mr Farrugia continued to shout and called people to come over. She gave them her back but they continued laughing and it was obvious that they were having a good time.

Ms Caruana Galizia said that, at one point, she stopped and asked priests at a nearby church to let her in and they did. They had to close the door as the people outside were shouting “take her out, take her out. Power belongs to us.”

In cross examination, lawyer Marion Camilleri, who is appearing for Mr Farrugia, asked Ms Caruana Galizia if she had ever written about her client.

At this point Ms Caruana Galizia told the lawyer that the argument she was going to make was completely incorrect.

She then said that of course she had mentioned Mr Farrugia, who dressed up as bride and did ridiculous things.

Ms Caruana Galizia said Mr Farrugia had been trying to prevent her from walking down the street and this was not how a civilised country operated.

Ms Caruana Galizia’s friend Gloria Beacom, who formed part of the group of Ms Galizia’s friends on the day, said that at one point she looked back and did not see Ms Caruana Galizia and Mr Stivala.

She called Mr Stivala who told her to go towards the church quickly as something had happened.

When she got there she saw a woman with short red spiky hair outside the door shouting. She could also see Mr Farrugia standing outside laughing.

She said there were two priests standing outside and she asked them if her friends were inside. They told her they were and asked her to get the police.

The case continues.